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The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario announced Wednesday afternoon its teachers will not instruct classes Friday in a political protest opposing Bill 115, which imposed new contracts on Ontario's public school teachers.

The Durham District School Board along with many other boards across Ontario said Wednesday afternoon they plan to shut down the schools for safety reasons as there wouldn't be adequate supervision for the students.

While the premier is calling the protest an illegal strike, the ETFO claims it's a political protest under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Under Bill 115, the Province has the power to go to the labour relations board and seek cease-and-desist applications. A hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. this afternoon at the labour relations board's Toronto office.

If the unions defy any ruling by the board, the government could then go to the Ontario Superior Court, arguing the unions are in contempt of court.

Disobeying the order could result in fines of up to $25,000 for the unions and as much as $2,000 for individual teachers under the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

On Wednesday, ETFO president Sam Hammond said that as far as fines go, the union will deal with them, if "we get to that point, if that is in fact what happens."